Chapter 13: Hashing it Out

Still on edge after getting off the phone with Candice, David can't even think about sleeping. He had felt marginally better after talking to Devon and making sure Ryan would be secured, then again when they had removed him from their home. He wanted to go home and take Candice into his arms and hold her. He wanted to make love to her until she screamed out his name.

Deciding he needed a drink David left his room and to the liquor cabinet where Ashton kept the good stuff. After gulping down a nice double scotch David poured another not paying attention to his surroundings.

"Why don't you pour me one of those and tell me what's bothering you?" Ashton had watched David as he came into the room too distracted to notice him. He could feel the power radiating off of him and wanted to help.

Pouring another drink David handed it to Ashton and joined him sitting in a matching arm chair. "What happened?"

David knew Ashton had no idea who any of the players were and that he'd have to start from the beginning. He gave his sire a brief overview of Coraline and the havoc she caused Mick and Beth. That she had a temporary cure and had been under lock and key about to be turned over to her brother.

"I was watching her the night she escaped. It was supposed to be Ryan alone but Ryan was a good friend of mine and I didn't want to leave him alone with her. I had a feeling that he was starting to feel sorry for her."

"So you stayed to try and keep him on the straight and narrow."

"It didn't do any good. I thought she was starting to get to him. I had no idea it'd reached that far. It all happened so fast. He staked me and set her free."

"That must have hurt."

"I've been staked before." David finished his drink.

"I didn't mean the stake." Ashton stood up and retrieved the bottle refilling David's glass.

David shrugged, "They were gone. We never found them. Later letters were delivered from them. He explained his actions and apologized."

David took a swig of the drink, "He was in love with Candice."

"Your Candice?"

"Yeah. He explained how he had feelings for her before we got together but he hadn't said anything because she was Josef's freshie. He said he loved me like a brother but he also loved her and that he didn't wish us any harm but that it was killing him to be around it. That's why he felt bad for Coraline."

"He freed her to try and free himself from ending up like her," Ashton observed.

"Yeah I guess. He said he'd keep her away from LA, out of trouble."

"You said this was years ago so why is it bothering you now?"

David finished his drink and held it for Ashton to refill again. "He showed up at my door tonight."

"WHAT?" Ashton looked astonished.

"Candice told me he showed up. Apparently he lost Coraline and came to warn us."

"What are you still doing here?"

David shrugged, "She told me to stay. She doesn't want me to hurt him. I'll just distract from the real problem. The focus should be on finding Coraline."

Ashton stayed silent as he considered. "We had a fight of sorts. We made up but it still feels unresolved and I don't like that."

"That makes sense. She's there with a man who claims to love her and you're here. What happened to him?"

"Josef has made sure he is confined. Everyone thinks he's the best chance to find Coraline."

"What do you think?"

"I don't know. I don't like it. I don't want to think he'd ever hurt Candice…"

"But he's been around that evil treacherous woman for so long he might try other means to get her for himself."

There it was. Ashton voiced the fears David had been trying to suppress. "Yes."

"But you're still here."

"Candice is right. I'd feel bad if I left you here with this unfinished and I would be too focused on keeping Ryan away from everyone to really find Coraline." David paused for a moment before continuing, "And I trust Candice."

Ashton smiled, "But I assume you also have your men there reporting to you regularly."

"Yes. I want to know he is under guard. I don't want him to be able to pull anything."

"Understandable." Ashton considered everything for a moment. "I appreciate your dedication and your assistance here but I understand if you need to go home. Love is far more important than work, I see that."

"I've decided to take it one day at a time. For now I'm going to continue working."

Ashton nodded, "Still perhaps she can come visit here."

David smiled, "I'm hoping to bring that up soon. I want to see her but I don't want her to think I'm trying to control her." He shook his head, "That doesn't go well. Sometimes she's too independent for her own good."

Ashton chuckled, "She is a spirited one. Keeps you on your toes."

David nodded feeling slightly better. "I think I should hit the freezer. Early morning ahead."

He left Ashton and headed for his freezer. He stripped down and went to the freezer opening it up but stopped to look at his phone. A picture of him and Candice was on the screen and he just stared at it before setting it down.

Once he was settled in the freezer he heard his phone chime and with lightening reflexes he had the lid open and phone in hand. He opened his messages and saw a text from Candice. 'I checked all the locks and I have a gun by the freezer. Going to bed now. Miss you, love you.' Attached was a picture of her from the waist up in one of his shirts sitting on the edge of their freezer with a gun on the table to her side.

Hitting reply he told her he missed and loved her too and to sleep well. He took one last look at the picture before returning to his freezer. She was his mate.

To Be Continued…

Evilous